Age of Empires Definitive Edition set for October, AoE 2 and 3 remasters are coming too

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It's a big day for Age of Empires fans.

Microsoft announced a little earlier today that Age of Empires 4 is in development, but that's not the only big news on the AoE front. It also revealed that Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, with 4K graphics, a remastered soundtrack, and improved gameplay, will be released on October 19. Even better: Age of Empires 2 and 3 will be getting the same treatment. 

"Built as an homage to PC gamers everywhere, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition will show the classic at its best, exclusively for Windows 10 and available for purchase from the Windows Store," Microsoft Studios creative director Adam Isgreen said on the Xbox Wire. 

"We couldn’t just relaunch one. Just like we created the Age of Empires: Definitive Edition to honor fans of the series and PC gamers everywhere, we wanted to commit to improving the entire franchise. Get ready for history to repeat itself!" 

A blog post on the Age of Empires site lists a few of the features coming to the new Definitive Edition, including the addition of attack move, higher 250-300 population cap​ options, unit queuing, right-click mouse scrolling, and contextual rally points.

If this looks like your thing, you can sign up for the Definitive Edition closed beta—and, I would assume, future updates about the AoE 2 and 3 remasters—via the Age of Empires Insiders Program.

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.